Saturday, August 31, 2019

Behaviorism, Cognitivism, and Cconstructivism

Without going in to details, learning is† a permanent change in behavior.† (Burns, R, 1995) and can be gained through observation or interaction. These include behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism. In this paper we are going to comprise and have personal reactions toward these three schools of thought. â€Å"Is there any best method in teaching English?†. This is the commonest question that English teachers raise. Most teachers try to be the best in their classrooms, but they even don't know how. Obviously, there is no best method to use in teaching English; we should take all of them in to consideration and manipulate the fruitful points. According to scholars in cognitivism and constructivism students are responsible for their own knowledge; experiences, cultural and social aspects are so important in constructing the knowledge and the teacher is a guider. In contrast to behaviorists who know humans as a programmed machine which achieve knowledge through repetition and conditioning. In my opinion, when learners think about an issue critically and have some ideas from different aspects to solve the problems, they understand the idea better, Thus, collaboration and interaction motivate the students; the motivated student has no time to devote to do other unrelated things in the classroom. Therefore, they can work in groups and have explanation or prediction and make sense of current experience. However, we can't deny the role of conditioning and repetition in learning another language. According to elements of observational learning students pay attention by marking and highlighting and as they memorize the knowledge they can remember it easily. â€Å"when individuals are learning a new behavior, they will learn it faster if they are reinforced correct response.† (Woolfolk, A, 2016). Reinforcement plays a really essential role in learning. When the teacher commends the students systematically they have more positive reactions toward their learning. As a teacher who works in ministry of education, I think behaviorism is more dominant at Iranian school. Students and their inner abilities, intelligence – according to multiple intelligence theory by Gardner – are ignored. The higher level the students are the less creativity and critical views they have. The cultural and social learning (authenticity) are ignored as well. Moreover, group working and collaborating play little role in Iranian schools. Students are not able to predict and organize their knowledge. As they are fed by the teacher they can't use the knowledge they know to understand the subject that they don't know. The focus is most on the operant conditioning and students are likely to memorize the knowledge rather than understand the point. The testing tools also are not that professional in order to evaluate students who are learning through constructivism and cognitivism. The materials which have been covered in the books are not powerful enough to juice up the students discovering abilities and help them to build their own knowledge. In conclusion, as I mentioned before none is superior to another. We have to recognize the advantages of each and use them appropriately. Teachers have to put both students' inner abilities and the effects of habit formation into consideration. But they have to help students to level up their intellectual abilities and build their own knowledge with previous experiences.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Hate Crimes: Matthew Shepard Essay

Wyoming, October 7th 1998. Aaron Kriefels is cycling in a remote rural area when he sees what at first he believes to be a scarecrow tied to a fence. He looks closer and sees not a scarecrow, but a young man badly beaten and close to death. The victims name was Matthew Shepard. On Dec. 1st 1976, Matthew Shepard was born in Casper, Wyoming. He attended elementary school in the states, but after his first year in high school his family moved to Saudi Arabia. He then attended the American School in Switzerland where he was elected as a peer mediator. His friends and peers felt comfortable talking to him and he was someone you came to when you needed advice. He was described by his father as â€Å"an optimistic and accepting young man who had a special gift of relating to almost everyone. He was the type of person who was very approachable and always looked to new challenges. Matthew had a great passion for equality and always stood up for the acceptance of people’s differences. â€Å"[1] In February 1995, during a high school trip to Morocco, Matthew was beaten, robbed, and raped, causing him to withdraw from school. According to his mother, from then on he was prone to experiencing panic attacks and depression. Although this time in his life was extremely difficult, Shepard still graduated in May then attended Catawba College in North Carolina and Casper College in Wyoming, before settling in Denver. Shepard became a first-year political science major at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, and was chosen as the student representative for the Wyoming Environmental Council. Shortly after midnight, on October 7th, 1998 Shepard met two men (Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson) at the Fireside Lounge. He was offered a ride home, but shortly after leaving they robbed, pistol-whipped and tortured him, tying him to a fence leaving him to die. Matthew was left in the freezing cold suffering from his injuries before slipping into a coma. In total, it took 18 hours before he was found and rushed to the hospital. Upon arrival it became apparent that his injuries were too severe and the doctors couldn’t operate. On October 12th, Matthew Shepard died of his injuries, never having woken up from his coma. During the trial, McKinney tried to justify his actions by originally pleading that he and Henderson were driven to temporary insanity by alleged sexual advances by Shepard. I believe this is one of the key factors in understanding why people do what they do when it comes to homosexually based hate crimes. When men ‘check out’ or ‘hit on’ women they believe it is there right. The right to gaze upon a woman’s body is something they genuinely believe is a man’s right. There is no female equivalent to a man’s gaze. It is something that is seen as powerful and socially intimidating, and when the two men in the bar noticed Shepard looking at them it made them believe they were being hit on as if they were women. Both Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson felt they needed to defend not only their masculinity but their heterosexuality. This is very important because, later on in the trial when McKinney states that while in the car Matthew made an apparent sexual advance toward him, instead of backing away McKinney begins hitting Shepard. After feeling like he had been emasculated back at the bar, I bet he was just looking for an excuse to exert power over Matt. Whether he had in fact made sexual advances toward Aaron isn’t the point, the point is that McKinney chose to defend his heterosexuality by literally beating the life out of him and showing him that he had the power. Both McKinney and Henderson were of slight build, but with Matthew being even smaller and only reaching 5’1 it only solidified in the minds of the two men their power of the homosexual man. What happens next is what changed this from a triggered â€Å"Gay Panic Defense† (which is, in my opinion a completely bogus and ridiculous excuse for those who can’t control their fists) to a hate crime and a murder. After severely beating Shepard in the moving truck, Henderson tied him to the fence. Their decision to tie his body up for everyone to see is part of their intensions to make it a public display of what they believe should be private. In an interview for the Laramie Project (a play based on the events of Matthew’s death), McKinney’s girlfriend tells writers about why the two men really decided to invite Matt into their car. After being disgusted at the thought of being hit on by a gay man they go to the bathroom where they plan to put on a gay pretense in order to lead Shepard into their vehicle and rob him. They wanted him to be punished for â€Å"coming onto straight people. † By lifting his body in midair and tethering him to the fence they were aware that someone would find him that way. They didn’t hide or trash or burry the body, they made it a spectacle. But in doing this, you can deduce that this murder wasn’t fully about Matthew Shepard. He was a trigger, he was someone they could take advantage of. They used his body to show not only to Matthew himself, but to Laramie and the surrounding community that they were defending their ‘manhood. ’ And in one of the most brutal ways you can imagine. Hate crimes towards people who are a different sexual orientation then others are more common than people think. There are a lot of organizations that try to help stop these hate crimes but I think that these situations should be in the news more often. People need to be more aware about what they say and what they do because you never know who could be listening. It could be your children who will take what you say as the truth. It could be someone walking near you or even in the same room and be deeply offended by what you say. You never know who you could offend, be it a friend, a co-worker or even a family member. People need to watch what they say because you never know who will be listening. Hate crimes must be stopped and it will take people to take action against it in order to make the world a better place.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Is Terrorism the Answer? Essay

To what extent will you go, to prove your point? Would you kill someone for it? Terrorism is defined as an act of violence intended to instill fear in the minds of people and is organized to achieve a political, religious or ideological goal. The number of assassinations and bombings in the recent years has increasingly gone up that even a 4th grader knows what a terrorist attack is. Due to the actions of a few groups of people terrorists have received a stereotype all over the world. Terrorism is often a result of oppression or is a due to views and beliefs of an individual or an entire organization. In some cases, the same group may be described as â€Å"freedom fighters† by its supporters and considered to be terrorists by its opponents. Terrorism can actually be seen as a cry for attention, and our media give them just that. The causes and effects of terrorist attacks depend on the motivation of an individual or an entire group. Nobody in their right senses would resort to terrorism. One of the main reasons for terrorism is social and political injustice. People choose terrorism when they are trying to right what they perceive to be a social or political or historical wrong, when they have been stripped of their land or freedom, or denied their human rights. Everybody believes in something and the men who proclaim war against a small society or the whole nation does so because they believe violence bring about a change. Unlike Mahatma Gandhi who believed in ahimsa (fighting injustice with peace) these men believe that a change cannot be made unless they fight for it with guns and bombs. Years of oppression and discrimination bring about a change in the beliefs and actions of many individuals, some might choose to follow the paths taken by great men in the past and some tries to make a change by terrorizing and instilling fear in society. The sanction imposed on Iraq, the presence of U.S military in Saudi Arabia and the support of Israel by  the U.S caused one of most famous terrorist attack in history, the 9/11 attack on the world trade center. Terrorist attacks are not always for the cause of a society but also due to an individual’s personal belief and sometimes it is in the form of domestic terrorist attack like the Wall Street bombing or the Oklahoma city bombing. What most people don’t think about is what happens after a terrorist attack. The men who give up their life in order to prove a point or bring about a change do not think what happens to families of the hundreds of people that are victims of a terrorist attack. Terrorist attacks cause instability in the lives of many people. Its effects the community and economy of the nation and also affects the system by which the nation function. The death and destruction caused by an attack leaves the country in ruins for months or even years. Almost every sector of the economy is affected by it. Terrorism imposes a significant economic effect on societies and will not only lead to direct material damage, but also to long term effects on the local economy. Due to a terrorist event, these economic agents suffer from impact through losses in physical and human capital. Major terrorist attacks not only creates social imbalance but also creates racial stereotypes. Ever since the 9/11 attack the Muslims have been marked as â€Å"terrorists† by people around the world, mainly the west. Since when did terrorists get a face? The same typical long bearded Muslim man with a white turban holding a bomb can be seen on every poster related to terrorism. Even after 13 years, the consequences of the 9/11 attacks are still being felt by Muslims all over the world. It is a facts that most Muslim Americans having to hide their religion, by changing their names or appearance, or by practicing their faith discreetly. A shadow of distrust and suspicion still follows many ordinary Muslims, not only in the United States but around the globe. A religion once known for its peaceful and loving nature is now associated with violence and aggression due to the actions of a group of men. Having a long beard, wearing a hijab or headscarf, or praying in a mosque are now the signs that people look for to accuse someone for terrorism. Another obvious answer to the question â€Å"what are the effects of terrorism?† is WAR. Terrorist attacks on different countries result in distrust and aggression between two countries and this eventually results in long term enmity and in extreme cases lead to war between the nations. Some of the examples for bad relationships between countries are the relationship between America and Iraq or the relationship between India and Pakistan. Although there were no major consequences or effects after the 2008 Mumbai attacks it is not a secret that India and Pakistan are not in best terms with each other. â€Å"We all have to be concerned about terrorism, but you will never end terrorism by terrorizing others† – Martin Luther King. Just like how our body fights viruses we need to fight terrorism by not letting it grow or multiply. The approach that can stop terrorism from multiplying lies in developing a long term plan, supported and financed by all nations of the world. Terrorism does not die along with the death of their leader. We need to find the root of the problem and cure it. An Individual should not be given a chance to consider violence as an option to bring about a change. I believe education and freedom are the two main ingredients to create a world without violence and terrorism.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Is Small Beautiful The Management Styles of Small Firms Essay

Is Small Beautiful The Management Styles of Small Firms - Essay Example Whatever the reason, small businesses have become a prevalent part of the United Kingdom economy, and consequently, it is important to understand their nature and the way in which they operate. Small firms are more than simply scaled down versions of their larger counterparts, they operate differently, make different decisions and are driven by many factors that do not affect larger firms (Atkinson, 2008). It is often perceived that small businesses have an ideal management structure, which is harmonious, where management and employees work together towards a similar goal. This essay examines what type of management styles are present in small businesses, whether this perception of ‘small is beautiful’ is real, and what influences management of small firms. Not just size alone Many theories and approaches to examining management of small firms assume that there is harmony across the industry. However, small firms are not homogenous with one another; instead they are subject to a range of different factors that influence the way that they operate, their management styles and their success. For example, ownership structures differ between small firms, with the owner being either, self-employed, owner-director, owner controller or a small employer. Because of these variations between small businesses, any consideration of the management styles and methods of control must also consider other factors about the firm, such as structure and agency (Barrett and Rainnie, 2002). ... Even when sections of the industry are taken into account there is still substantial variation in the way that businesses operate and what factors drive them (Ram and Edwards, 2003). For example, some firms focus primarily on profit, while others desire a family business and are not willing to put this in jeopardy even if this would mean increased profits. Likewise, some small firms compete directly with larger ones by producing similar products, while others produce a unique and distinct products do not directly compete with larger firms. Therefore, it is not possible to provide an overall model of the small business industry, or to predict what management styles will be present under different sets of circumstances. A more effective approach is to examine the different management styles that are present in small firms and how these differ from those common in larger firms. It has been argued that the definition of a small firm needs significant work, as the current perception focus es mainly on number of employees and the precise number differs between publications. The problem with this method of defining small firms is that it does not take into account the complexities and variation that is present within the small industry sector. Some authors or publications make use of key business characteristics to determine whether the company is a small business, or a combination of industry and size. An example of this is the suggestion that in the manufacturing industry, a small business is one that has less than 200 employees. One suggestion has been to modify the definition of a small company so that it uses a qualitative

Ancient History Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ancient History - Assignment Example The Eastern region was infertile, unproductive and sparsely populated. Its significance lay in the fact that it was a natural buffer zone that secured the western, fertile region from invasions and raids. During this period, Asia was inhabited by many different communities who were quite progressive and developed. The dyes and woolen textiles made in this region were quite famous and in tremendous demand. The Romans saw this region as a rich place for collection of taxes so that they could live lavishly and in style. The area also was quite rich in natural resources. Spices were grown in Asia which seasoned the food of the Romans, and was a crop that had worldwide commercial value.1 The larger cities of Asia were important centers for education and culture. In fact, Asia had everything that the Romans desired and wanted. Riches from Asia allowed them to indulge in a luxuriant life style, build their cities and have the largest armies in the world. Their large armies helped them to co ntrol and manage the territories they conquered.2 During the Roman peace period, trade and other cultural activities flourished in Asia Minor. Roman emperors acknowledged the importance of this region and travelled to different cities in Asia to help and encourage in the development and progress of this province. The Romans were quite adept in constructing roads, and a vast network of roads was built here to connect this part of Asia to the rest of the Roman Empire. During this time many enormous temples and other public construction such as libraries, sewerage systems, fountains etc. were designed by Roman architects and built by the local populating. Answer 2 The Third Mithridatic war fought during 73-63BC was the longest of the three Mithridatic conflicts. It started because the ruler of Bithynia was a puppet of the Romans, and Mitrhridates tried to overthrow him. Consequently, the ruler of Bithynia declared war on Pontus because of encouragement and support provided to him by th e Romans advisors. The two legions of Roman soldiers allied with the army of Nicomedes IV proceeded to invade Mitrhridates’ kingdom of Pontus in 89 BC. Nicomedes and his Roman allies were completed routed.3 Although Mitrhridates was welcomed in Anatolia, his hatred against the Romans persisted, and in 88 BC, he instigated a massacre campaign against the Romans and their Italian allies and eliminated them throughout the entire region. Tigranes the Great, who ruled neighboring Armenia became an ally of Mitrhridates and consolidated his alliance by marrying Mitrhridates’ daughter. Both kingdoms supported each other against Rome.4 The conflict in Asia Minor reflected Mithradte’s desire to defeat the Romans and include Asia in his rule. The second conflict was different because it reflected the ambitions of the Roman general Murena. Since both wars were inconclusive, it was apparent that there was going to be another war because Sulla who had discussed the terms and agreement of the first conflict had died. Sulla was a staunch proponent of peace. 5 Most of Sulla’s allies thought that the peace terms that he had negotiated were too soft, and when Sulla died the Roman Senate firmly refused to approve the agreement. In this war, the Romans defeated Mitrhridates VI of Pontus which ended the Pontic Kingdom and created the Kingdom of Armenia as an allied client of Rome. The importance of these wars was that the Romans gained power and influence in absolutely new territories. The precise dates of the

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Types of Health Insurance Plans Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Types of Health Insurance Plans - Case Study Example Offering a health insurance plan helps in retaining and attracting quality workers. Accordingly, this results in a higher productivity and customer satisfaction. Additionally, a health insurance makes employee accept better benefits instead of a higher salary. Consequently, this reduces the organizational expenditure and provides more financial resources for development (Morrisey,  2008). Furthermore, a health benefit decreases absenteeism and improves the workers’ health and morale. As a result, the workers are more willing to offer better services that assist the firm in realizing its objectives. On the other hand, such a benefit is expensive for the organization, considering its small size and sources of finance. Additionally, the administrative cost of designing and implementing such a plan is very expensive for the business (Morrisey,  2008). Furthermore, the current cost of insurance policies is increasing, making it less viable and an expensive endeavor for the organization. For this reason, any mistakes made in the benefit plans can lead the team to serious legal problems that might lead to costly charges or regulatory fines. There are different types of health insurance plans designed to meet specific needs of an employee or employees. Specifically, the most common in the market is embedded in a network of providers in order to benefit from the economies of scale. Some of the available plans include the exclusive provider organization, health maintenance organization, a point of service, and the preferred provider organization (Morrisey,  2008). The most desirable and cost-effective plan for the organization is the Preferred Provider Organization. Specifically, this is because the method is cost effective as it allows members of the network to pay less when the employees use services from the providers within the network. The Preferred Provider Organization is network specific, and the employees do not pay for the plan.  

Monday, August 26, 2019

FRESHPLUS SUPERMARKETS Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

FRESHPLUS SUPERMARKETS - Research Paper Example The planning of business operations in a successful manner is important for higher productivity (Jacobs and Chase, 2011). Every morning the previous day’s workings are analysed by the manager and this way the manager is well aware of the status of work progress of the supermarket. By conducting a check on the previous day’s sales, the manager accordingly plans the task for the current day. All issues that were present in the previous day’s working that took place in his absence are addressed by the manager and the way it was handled is reviewed by the manager. After reviewing these tasks, the manager then takes a round in the supermarket and visits the shop floor and the morning staff and asks if they have any problems or any issue that they want to discuss. He asks the employees if everything is working in order and also about if they require anything of any sort for conducting their job properly. The manager’s future planning regarding his job role is that he wants to continue working as a store manager for further two years and then he would like to get promoted to a higher level. He would like to get promoted in the head office as a CEO or General Manager of Freshplus Supermarkets in future. Mr Mohamed Buday has planned his future career on a 5 year timeline and he has sets his personal goals and objectives so that he accomplishes his future career plan. He has organized his priorities according to the level of importance and follows it accordingly. Organising is another major function of management and this is one of the most critical functions as through proper planning and organising of tasks, further work can be progressed (William and McWilliams, 2010). For achieving the goals successfully, the manager needs to organise all work tasks in a systematic manner and accordingly assign tasks to each employee so that productive results can be attained. The organising of tasks and employees

Sunday, August 25, 2019

The Joy of Graduating Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Joy of Graduating - Essay Example In addition, during summer, just like her then oncoming sophomore year, she went through a course on international law and took in an internship which lasted 50 hours (Lombardi 1). Danielle was named a valedictorian, which she did not expect. According to the author, a valedictorian season has just ended and students are receiving accolades for being the best performers academically in the school. However, the path to that honor has become more competitive lately. A number of aspects such as the rise in the number of high school scholars, inflation of grade, strong competition for acceptance in collage and a well-informed student body have transformed the game. One of the characteristics of the valedictorian is that they strategize to win, by taking an intense load of A.P courses that are weighted during calculation of the average grades. Some of them keep off from creative courses, such as art or photography, since in creative courses, grading can be biased while having a grade B can mess their target. In most of the cases, enthusiasm for valedictorian honors has resulted into lawsuits. For example, in Danielle’s high school, a high school senior is said to have sued the district in an attempt to be declared valedictorian (Lombardi, 1). Some valedictorians end up suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome like Ms. Hornstine, who is claimed to have maneuvered the system and her claim brought an outcry in the society. Later, her acceptance to Harvard was nullified following allegations that her articles for the local daily were plagiarized (Lombardi, 1). Most of the valedictorians end up sharing the position. For example, this year, Susannah and Brett are the co-valedictorians in Horace Greeley High School. Even though nobody would speak to give evidence, stories about competed grade point means spread and brought hatred. However, Susannah and Brett showed a united front, explaining how they

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Parkinson disease Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Parkinson disease - Research Paper Example Usually, the nerve cells that degenerate because of Parkinson’s diseases are those located in the basal ganglia. In addition, Parkinson’s disease contributes to the loss of nerve cells in the substantia nigra, which is a component of the brainstem (Carranza 2013, p. 67). Worth noting is the fact that the cells affected by Parkinson’s are responsible for the production of dopamine, which is a critical neurochemical messenger playing a key role in coordinating normal movement. Usually, dopamine forms the start of a circuit of messages responsible for the functionality of normal movement. Unfortunately, Parkinson’s disease affects nerve cells that produce dopamine reducing the level of stimulation in the receptors involved in the coordination of normal movement. More specifically, the receptors in the basal ganglia circuit fail to undergo active stimulation resulting in challenges in movement. Patients with this disease, suffer from movement with tremors, los s of balance, stiffness, as well as slow moving. This paper will describe the signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, as well as the current treatments used in treating the disease. As highlighted above, Parkinson’s disease causes the degenerations of neurons. However, researchers have been unable to describe the specific reason or cause that triggers the degeneration of neurons. The degeneration of neurons remains to be an area of interest or many researchers who understand the social effects, as well as the economic implications of the disease. In addition, the progression of the diseases can be highly debilitating denying an individual the freedom to move around or have a proper body balance (Chaudhuri 2009, p. 78). Evidently, the past few years have seen many researchers make remarkable progress in understanding the disease. Acceleration of such understanding has helped manage the condition of many patients with the disease. Current

Friday, August 23, 2019

Strategic Management Case Analysis section on how to prepare a Research Paper

Strategic Management Case Analysis section on how to prepare a strategic case analysis. (IP 4) - Research Paper Example It has been subject to serious design level issues wherein product recalls were traced back to the to the faults in design and manufacturing processes of Toyota. This suggests that its operational weaknesses may be on the rise during the recent past. Ford as a part of automobile industry is facing stiff social challenge of improving its image. There is a general perception within the general public that car automakers are thriving on tax payers’ money. Overall market demand is emerging from US market. Ford’s primary demographics is in North American market besides it serves EU market also. Its overall product range serve both high end and low end market. In order to overcome the weakness of low consumer demand, Ford can enter into small car manufacturing. It needs to improve its R&D efforts to produce more cost effective vehicles which can serve the mass market at the global market (Nilsson-Witell, Antoni, & Dahlgaard, 2005). It needs to increase its R&D budget and engage into further improving its fuel efficient cars. In order to overcome it dependence on two markets, Toyota need to establish its manufacturing and distribution facilities in other emerging markets specially in India and other growing markets where demand for low cost fuel efficient cars can be enormous. It can expand into these markets through effective quality management. (Taddese & Osada, 2011) It needs to enter into market development process in a way which can ensure its presence in optimal market locations across the whole globe. Nilsson-Witell, L., Antoni, M., & Dahlgaard, J. (2005). Continuous improvement in product development: Improvement programs and quality principles". International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management,, 22(8),

Thursday, August 22, 2019

My Hobby Essay Example for Free

My Hobby Essay Practically every person has his or her own hobby; whether it‘s a sport, collecting certain items, or something one takes their time practicing. Personally, I never thought I ever had a hobby. As a matter of fact I wasn’t even sure what a hobby actually was. Then I got to thinking and I finally realized that my hobby was dancing. Yes, I know that to some people dancing is not considered a true hobby; but the way I see it, if I enjoy dancing and spend my precious time doing it, then I have every right to consider it as my special hobby. As far as I can remember about my childhood, I have always loved to dance. Dancing was just my thing. I remember attending ballet classes when I was five years old. I would learn the routines so quickly that the instructor would sometimes ask me to help her teach the other students. The greatest part of being in ballet was attending the ballet recitals. That was when each of us let ourselves shine in front of our family and friends. I always thought that the crowd was watching my every move and thinking, â€Å"Wow, that girl dances so gracefully. † Just thinking that made me try even harder to be the b est I could. I would practice every day after school and right before bedtime, too. It didn’t even matter to me if there was no music playing, I just kept on dancing. Becoming a famous dancer was one of my greatest childhood dreams. I believed that one-day I would get the

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Oscar Wilde’s Essay Example for Free

Oscar Wilde’s Essay The following essay will examine British Literature in two fold: the first being that of Oscar Wilde’s contribution to British Literature and the second being feminism in British Literature in the 1800’s and on. It is hoped that focusing on two separate but entangled subjects will make the paper more accessible and therefore broader in scope and understanding of the reader to British Literature. Peacocks and Sunflowers:Oscar Wilde’s â€Å"Immoral Aestheticism† as an Escape from Reality into the Realm of Beauty Gilbert, the author’s alter ego in Oscar Wilde’s essay â€Å"The Critic as Artist† (originally published in 1888) declared that â€Å"[a]ll art is immoral† (274), and that phrase turned into a manifesto for the â€Å"immoral aestheticism† doctrine of the famous dandy who decorated rooms with peacock feathers and showed in public with a sunflower in the buttonhole. The writer was condemned by contemporaries as a breacher of Victorian ‘moral’ style of living but justified by successors. As Ellmann explains, â€Å"[s]in is more useful to society than martyrdom, since it is self-expressive not self-repressive† and thus contributes more significantly to the acute goal of â€Å"the liberation of the personality† (Ellmann 310). The man who used to be convicted of the offence of â€Å"gross indecency† is praised now as an icon of decadent and modernist style, a revolutionary in aesthetics and ethics, and a prophet of beauty which is above and outside any boundaries. The concept of art and beauty as abstract notions being unrelated to the narrowly dichotomous morals takes a key position in Wilde’s oeuvre. Today’s critics are never tired in their coining of appropriate definitions for the writer’s aesthetic programme. Gillespie, one of the most important researchers of Wilde’s legacy, viewed it as consisting of â€Å"paradoxical gestures† which â€Å"delineate an aesthetic that celebrates the impulse to integrate, amalgamate, and conjoin rather than separate, dissipate, or disperse† (37). Although the writer was aware of â€Å"the grave spiritual dangers involved in a life of immoral action and experiment† (Pearce 164), he underlined the right of an artist to be immoral for the sake of eternal beauty. In his aestheticism, Wilde was an admirer and disciple of essayist and art critic Walter Horatio Pater with the latter’s emphasis on the esthete as a novel kind of being (Murphy 1992; Wood 2002). He was also immersed into the late 19th century cultural milieu as being involved into a polylogue on the topics of art, artist, ethics, and beauty which resulted in the emergence of Decadence and Modernism (Bell 1997). Altogether with the English fin de siecle men of art such as A. C. Swinburne, Walter Pater, Lionel Johnson, Ernest Christopher Dowson, George Moore Symons, and D. G. Rossetti, Wilde researched the concept of aesthetics as being constructed by a person who was proud of â€Å"[his] non-participation †¦ in ethical controversy† (Woodcock 53) and thus freed from the restrictions imposed by society and common law. Oscar Wilde’s â€Å"immoral aestheticism† as an integral part of the decadent and early modernist styles is what the present proposal attempts to look at. It will research Wilde’s critical and fictional legacy in regard to ideas and concepts as pertinent to the new understanding of relationship between art and morals. This proposal attempts to re-examine Oscar Wilde as a theorist of the novel aesthetics, establishing a link between the writer and other theorists and critics to prove that the call for immoral aestheticism was a brilliant attempt to overcome the boredom of reality and enter the world of absolute beauty. Modern Women’s Voices: Sexual Subjectivity in the texts of Victorian and contemporary British women writers Feminism is still one of the most popular critical lenses to zoom into details of history of literature and social life (Brennan 2002; Jackson 1998; Kemp 1997; Scott 1996), and it is proven to be useful within the framework of the given proposal aimed at tracing the common and differentiating points of the two critical periods of British literature. I am especially interested in the late Victorian epoch with its rise of independent women’s suffragist voices and the latest period with its diversity of tones and melodies composed by women writers amidst the turmoil of free speech and re-thinking of common gender values such as career, family, child-rearing, and gender relationships. The novels chosen are The Story of a Modern Woman by Ella Hepworth Dixon (1894), Anna Lombard by Victoria Cross (the pseudonym of Annie Sophie Cory1901), Foreign Parts by Janice Galloway (1994) and Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination by Helen Fielding (2004). The earlier and later books are divided by almost a century but despite a temporal distance there are common motives and aspirations which approximate the Victorian ‘New Woman’ and a modern British female as depicted in fiction. The feminist movement of the late Victorian period was pre-conditioned by many factors which made the trend not accidental but seriously grounded in the wider social context being permeated by patriarchal ascendance and rigidness of social structure (Bernstein 1997; Lewis and Ardis 2003). The ‘New Women’ movement that acquired much power during the period from the late 1890s to roughly 1915 featured a range of opinions concerning the heightened role of a female in a modern society (Walls 2002; Mitchell 1999). As Ardis (1990) observed, Dixon went farther than her colleagues in asserting the preciousness and independency of a woman as a self-sustaining creature (see also Fehlbaum 2005), whereas Cross’s Anna Lombard represents another type of the late Victorian womanhood as sacrificing her desires and aspirations for the sake of the traditional familial institution. The most recent books by Galloway and Fielding cannot be straight-forwardly labeled as ‘feminist’ writing, although they utilise some stylistic elements of feminist narration (Greene 1991). Whereas Galloway vividly portrays contemporary women as being able to function outside the patriarchic framework but provides no answer to the question about the appropriateness of such life style, Fielding is often criticised for the attempts to find consensus with a men’s world and, therefore, to abandon the programme of modern Amazons (Marsh 2004). Anyhow, both contemporary British women of letters share specific ideas concerning authorship and the interplay between feminist and non-feminist traditions to the extent that they can be seen as spiritual sisters of their Victorian predecessors. Being equipped with solid theoretical instruments from gender studies and psychology (e. g. Lacanian psychoanalytic theory) to conceptualise the evolution of womanhood and gendered selves in Great Britain throughout a century, I hope to establish a link between late Victorian and recent women’s writings with a special emphasis on the literary features of the female novel. The freshness of the proposal is in the choice of research objects (all the four novels are not enough extensively discussed by academic critics) and the carrying of analysis within the theoretical framework concerning authorship that was proposed by a Russian scholar Michael Bakhtin.

Women Opting Out Of Work

Women Opting Out Of Work Opting out is a term most commonly understood to describe the decision of married women to voluntarily quit professional careers and remain out of the labor force for a relatively extended period of time during which they are engaged in family care giving, primarily motherhood, to the exclusion of paid employment. Women use a variety of strategies to reconcile work and family responsibilities, including time out of the labor force, opting out, by virtue of the attention given it by the media, has assumed special prominence and a distinct identity. The novelty of opting out is that the women said to be returning home to re-create the traditional family form of male breadwinners are, unlike the stay-at-home mothers of the 1950s, seasoned professionals with considerable career success who are making their decisions in an historical context that affords them a wider range of options than were available to earlier generations of women, even privileged women. Employment, when anticipated a t all after marriage, was regarded as short-term and secondary. In the 1970s, educated women made a break with the past and began, in significant numbers, to combine sustained employment with motherhood. Opting out is the ability to exercise this option which is typically open only to women with a male partner whose earnings can offset the loss of their own. (Stone, 2007a) Some women have resorted to opting out of work because they are not satisfied with their careers. They are not choosing to quit but rather are unable to continue, pushed out by the conditions of their jobs rather than pulled home by their children. Highly educated, elite professional women get tired of the demands of work, do not like the effects on their family lives, and opt out of the fast professional tracks of law, business, and journalism to take care of their children. Some of these women are full-time mothers; others work part-time, typically at less demanding jobs. Not all elite professional women are opting out by any means. How much of womens decision to stay home is a choice, and how much is the result of inflexible and hostile workplaces. Suffice it to say here that the ideology of intensive mothering, combined with the rising demands of workplaces and lack of public support for childrens welfare (e.g., healthcare, daycare, maternity and paternity leave) create severe di fficulties for many mothers, privileged and otherwise. (Belkin, 2003, October 26.) Their children are pure, innocent and helpless and need a selfless nurturer who will shelter them from the corrosive outside world, either by providing care herself or ensuring that alternative (although inevitably second-best) care is provided. The mother/child bond is uniquely tight, and lasting, and essential to a childs healthy psychological development and only a mother (not a father, other family member, or paid caretaker) can provide this care. Mothers are responsible for nurturing, listening, responding, explaining, negotiating, distracting, and searching for appropriate alternative care, practices which are so labor-intensive, so time-consuming, so energy-absorbing because mothers understand themselves as largely responsible for the way their children turn out. Children seem happier, more rested and childlike. They get along better with siblings, and are quite creative in their uses of free t ime. (Hays, 1996, p. 120) Professionals who had quit their jobs and were stay-at-home mothers -opted out, as conventionally understood -which found that the large majority of these women were highly conflicted about their decision, Further challenging the prevailing explanation that their decision was primarily about motherhood. (Stone, 2007a) Because of the high cost of living, life becomes expensive thus making women to look for work to support the demands of their families. Middle-class women cant afford to quit their jobs without scaling back considerably. The families of working class parents are believed to flourish with large amounts of unscheduled time, and adult intervention in their activities is not considered a worthwhile use of anyones time. Poor and working-class parents use fewer words with their children, and although children prove quite capable of expressing opinions, adults do not actively cultivate this ability, nor do they cultivate the questioning of authorities and negotiation. Finally, discipline is a matter of rules and sometimes physical force, not reason. As a result, poor and working-class children find themselves disadvantaged vis a vis their middle-class peers, and privilege is passed down. Mothers who work full-time, for instance, often defend this choice as better for the child in the long-r un. Also importantly, mothers are held responsible by others for their childrens well-being, which means that choosing not to adopt tenets of this ideology requires a defense which is often made in terms of the ideology itself. The accomplishment of natural growth does not, however, mesh as neatly with the procedures and expectations of schools and the workplace as does concerted cultivation, which encourages children to engage in many time management and linguistic practices that institutions expect and reward. (Lareau, 2003) Women do not quit their careers because of a preference to stay home with their children. Some professions might be more or less conducive to womens persistence suggests that there are lessons to be learned from certain fields that might be usefully applied to others, especially the corporate sector. Although virtually all of the women in the sample were happy to have more time to spend with their children, most still identified with their professions and int ended to return to work at some point in the future, although their plans are uncertain. Having a job, especially a fulfilling professional career, is more interesting than housework and child-rearing. Men dont want housewives, Some men fantasize about having a woman running their home and doing not much more, sure. But nowadays, a lot of men prefer to marry more independent women, and would find the idea of supporting a wife intimidating. Women with children are found to have lower full-time, year-round labor force participation rates overall than male graduates or women without children, but those with advanced degrees showed a strong commitment to their careers by returning to work after only brief absences following childbirth (Stone, 2007a) I would agree with Ann Crittenden the Author of The Price of Motherhood: Why the Most Important Job in the World is still the Least Valued. This is because she portrays women as the good mother, the wise mother . . . is more important to the community than even the ablest man; her career is more worthy of honor and is more useful to the community than the career of any man, no matter how successful. A mothers work is not just invisible; it can become a handicap. Raising children may be the most important job in the world, but you cant put it on a rà ©sumà ©. The idea that time spent with ones child is time wasted is embedded in traditional economic thinking. People who are not formally employed may create human capital, but they themselves are said to suffer a deterioration of the stuff, as if they were so many pieces of equipment left out to rust. Inflexible workplaces guarantee that many women will have to cut back on, if not quit, their employment once they have children. The re sult is a loss of income that produces a bigger wage gap between mothers and childless women than the wage gap between young men and women. The very definition of a mother is selfless service to another. We dont owe Mother for her gifts; she owes us. And in return for her bounty, Mother receives no lack of veneration. Crittenden proves homemakers are essential to the economic and political success of our country and its inhabitants. She also emphasizes the contributions of the large number of educated women who have chosen to stay home and raise children.(Crittenden, February 2001) Opting out is a luxury unavailable to most women and only applicable to those with high earnings/savings or wealthy partners; professional women with the option to opt out might take it because they are not given flexible options to stay in their professional jobs and parent; women in all job sectors are more affected by the recession, especially in jobs like finance where a male-dominated environment might lead to high-ranking women being axed because of the perception they arent tough enough; women with the ability to pretend they werent forced out of their jobs might do so by claiming they chose not to work to stay home and parentsuch women are not included in unemployment numbers or given the attendant benefits of unemployment; and the new frontier might be the flexibility stigma. The only way to get rid of the flexibility stigma is to embrace a culture where professional men and women each take off work in equal measure to care for children or attend to household tasks. Then, we might in a world where there is a parent stigma but at least it wont be borne solely by women. (Leonhard, 2010, August.) Conclusion. Because it does not conform to the standard conception of a profession, motherhood might seem to have no place in this issue. A woman requires no special expertise, no knowledge, skill or educational degree to become a mother. Furthermore, the work she does as a mother is unpaid, sometimes even unrecognized as work. These two features of motherood its accessibility to any fertile girl or woman, and the fact that society provides no financial compensation to mothers for their hard workare often lamented, though towards very different political ends. In fact, motherhood might be considered the very opposite of a profession: a status dependent upon biological, cultural and social factors, not educational ones, and involving labor done without pay or recognized steps to advancement. (article)

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

The Extinction Event and Life in the Post-Apocalyptic Greenhouse :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

The Extinction Event and Life in the Post-Apocalyptic Greenhouse The biggest mass extinction of the past 600 million years (My), the end-Permian event (251 My ago), witnessed the loss of as much as 95% of all species on Earth. Key questions for biologists concern what combination of environmental changes could possibly have had such a devastating effect, the scale and pattern of species loss, and the nature of the recovery. New studies on dating the event, contemporary volcanic activity, and the anatomy of the environmental crisis have changed our perspectives dramatically in the past five years. Evidence on causation is equivocal, with support for either an asteroid impact or mass volcanism, but the latter seems most probable. The rest of this article spends time speculating through the advances in technology and the reanalyzation of old evidence to determine various cataclysmic events that happened millions of years ago. There are many sections in this article that discuss the methods used to determine the closet possible dates and the sequence in which they follow. There are also sections in this article which discuss methods used for the evidence of impact, eruption and how reading the environmental changes can help paleontologists determine conclusions and narrow the perspectives of paleontologists (scientists) and popular culture as a whole. However, there are still many factors in the evidence collecting process that make it difficult to determine the actual events, let alone the sequence of them. For instance, at the end of the Permian, giant volcanic eruptions occurred in Siberia, spewing out some 2 million km3 of basalt lava, and covering 1.6 million km2 of eastern Russia to a depth of 400-3000mteres, equivalent to the area of the European Community. Consequently, with increasingly precise dating, the Siberian â€Å"Trap† (areas which are composed of basalt, a dark-colored igneous rock which is generally not erupted explosively from classic conical volcanoes, but usually emerges more slowly from the long fissures in the ground) have switched from having only a minor role in the Permian crisis to being the most probable cause of the whole catastrophe. Some scientists have even suggested recently that the massive flood basalts were actually themselves caused by a giant extraterrestrial impact, which tore deep into the continental crust of that part of present-day Siberia. So this is yet another example the evolutionary and

Monday, August 19, 2019

Human Nature in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson Essay -- The Lottery Ess

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson The idea of winning a lottery is associated with luck, happiness and anticipation of good things. In Shirley Jackson's story, " The Lottery", this is not the case. The irony of the story is that the winner of the lottery gets stoned to death by everyone else in the town. The story is very effective because it examines certain aspects of human nature. One aspect of human nature that is examined, and that adds to the effectiveness of the story, is man's tendency to resist change. This is shown in more than one way. The first way is the way some villagers tolerate the lottery even though they know it is wrong, and it serves no purpose. They talk about how other towns have already stopped having lotteries, but they allow it to continue year after year. Old man Warner even says "there's nothing but trouble" in quitting lotteries. Townsfolk listen to him because he has been in the lottery seventy-seven years. The townsfolk feel helpless to change things because they have been going on for so long. The fact that the box is old and needs to be replace...

Sunday, August 18, 2019

A Cask of Amontillado Essay: Theme of Masonry -- Cask Amontillado Essa

The Theme of Masonry in A Cask of Amontillado  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The fundamental question in Edgar Allan Poe's "A Cask of Amontillado" is the nature of Montresor's motive for the revenge he "vowed" to obtain when Fortunato "ventured upon insult" (209). Montresor believes a wrong is "unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong"(209). While Montresor endeavors to make his vengeance known to Fortunato, the author's references to Masonry in his use of characterization, setting and irony indicate Montresor's motive. Fortunato throws back a bottle of wine in a "gesticulation [Montresor] did not understand," a sign of the Masons, a secret society of which he affirms he is a member (212). This secrecy is emulated in Montresor's slaughter of his foe. Montresor's deadly act, he himself, and ultimately Fortunato are shrouded in secrecy. Montresor's destruction of his foe is carried out at dusk. He leads Fortunato through the darkness "down a long and winding staircase" "into the inmost recesses of the catacombs" "at the most remote end of t...

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Advantages of a Press Club in schools Essay

A press club is an organization for journalists and others professionally engaged in the production and dissemination of news. The press generally has to do with gathering, evaluating and distributing facts of current interest. It makes use of reporters, learners in this case, who research and write stories to be presented during school assemblies or to be posted on boards often with the guidance teachers as editors. Such news, in most cases consists of events that have happened in the school, the current ones, and those still on the pipeline. A school press club is important to the learners involved, school at large and even the community. There are a number of benefits that can be aligned with a press club. Some are; The press club will furnish the students and school populace with the information of things happening around them in the school, within the country and the world at large. It also brings the community closer to the school and makes people feel as though they are active participants in the education process as they asked to comment on aspects of either the school or education system every now and then. The club would help build interpersonal skills in members as they will interact with a number of people in search for information. The club can create in learners both in the club and outside the interest in a journalism career. It would also instill and build confidence and self-esteem in learners. ïÆ'ËœIt also gives training on journalism to those involved. A press club also does establish a culture of excellence. The learners will strive to produce the best they can. It isn’t anything that is ever verbalized or stressed in the program; it is inherent in the culture of the program. They think they are supposed to be â€Å"the best,† and they make it reality. It would also impart into learners the skill of researching which they will also use in other areas of learning. The press club will also impart and improve the writing and speech skills in learners as they will be exposed to it, be it daily or weekly. As the Chinese put it â€Å"tell me and I will forget, show me and I will remember, involve me and I will understand†, a press club is one such forum  where our pupils can be involved in their learning and surely they will not only remember but also understand. With press clubs in our schools, we will have learners who will understand that composition writing is not always letter writing but it involves much more. Let us ensure that we have these clubs in our schools and maybe and just maybe we may always be updated on the number of districts the nation has!

Friday, August 16, 2019

Fighting Methods Essay

World War 1 Since fire power (guns) had now become the main weapon of use, people began to dig trenches and use them for protection/barracks for the war. They used a wave maneuver to attack other sides, where they swarmed over No-man’s land (huge danger of being shot from opposite side) to try to get in to the other side’s trenches to fight. This kind of attack caused many casualties because people became very vulnerable once on No-man’s land. Gas attacks were also used but they were hard to control since the wind could change direction and blow it back to your own side. People had to constantly have masks It caused a lot of suffering and immediate death (lungs deteriorated), If you didn’t die you were still severely affected. Psychologically as well. Tanks were invented and used, however they also had a difficult time because they continually got stuck in the mud. Tanks were first invented in this war. However they were rushed into combat before the idea of it was fully perfected. So they were usually defective. Very good for fighting, hard time on No-Mans land Places that were bombed a lot caused tanks to get stuck. They also broke down a lot. Out of 42 sent to the Battle of Somme, 32 actually could begin attacking, however only 9 made it across No-man’s land. World War 2 Tank became the dominating weapon Used other methods over land and sea unlike ww1 some sea battles were so expansive that sometimes ships could not even see each other because they sent aircrafts to bomb/sink the other side. America and Britain mainly used aerial warfare because it could be destructive enough to cause surrender (e.g. Hiroshima) AIR WARFARE: Strategic: used bombers to destroy the opposing side’s industries, cities, and morale. The ‘Heavy Bomber’ aircraft was used for this, primarily by british and American Troops Tactical: Used planes to attack opposing side’s army forces on the battlefield. They usually coordinated with their own troops on the ground The ‘Fighter Bomber’ was the plane they mainly used for this. It was fast and heavily armed/armored. NAVAL WARFARE: Submarines became a major danger to ships Germans used a ‘Wolf Pack’ technique where they ganged up and used coordinated attacks on shipping convoys American forces adopted this method and used it against the Japanese The normal type of submarine used was the ‘Torpedo’ and the most famous of these being the ‘Long Lance’ used by the Japanese, which sunk 4 cruisers. LAND WARFARE: Tanks: Fast, heavily armored and low to the ground. Armed with powerful large and small caliber guns. The Soviet ‘T-34’ was considered the best model. The Germans liked it so much that they copied it and called it a ‘Panther Tank’ Artillery: Was developed to have easy mobility. Guns were often mounted on tracked, self-propelled carriages. Hand-carried rocket launchers were widely used against tanks. Example of that would be the Bazooka. Small Arms: Small, semi-automatic hand guns were used. People liked them because you didn’t have to pull a lever or bolt, and they weren’t hard to reload. (simple) Similarities: Other than the fact that firepower was the main weapon of choice, the wars differed widely in fighting methods. Differences: – Tanks were changed from tall unwieldy vehicles that fought alongside troops, to an independent offensive weapon. – The range of different firepower weapons increased dramatically, as well as quality No longer fought in trenches or used the ‘storming’ technique. First world war was an offensive attack of the Germans, however the second was more about border conflict. New developments in technology for battle World war 1 Armored tanks (1915), Junkers (1918), Bomber (1916-1918), Garros (1915), Voison, Gas (1915), Synchronized guns (1916), Antiaircraft (1916), Bolt action rifle, Lee Enfield, Mauser Rifle World war 2 M1 Garand, MP43 (Sturmgewehr 44), Colt M1911, Bazooka, Panzerfaust Almost all types of technology were utilized, although major developments were: Weaponry; including ships, vehicles, aircraft, artillery, rocketry, small arms, and biological, chemical and atomic weapons. Logistical support; including vehicles necessary for transporting soldiers and supplies, such as trains, trucks, and aircraft. Communications and intelligence; including devices used for navigation, communication, remote sensing and espionage. Medicine; including surgical innovations, chemical medicines, and techniques Industry; including the technologies employed at factories and production/distribution centers. Similarities between the two wars In both technology dictated the way the war was fought and often dictated events on the battlefield. Differences between the two wars Technology was relatively primitive in world war 1, with most of the war being done in trenches. Early airplanes were used. Poisonous gas was deployed for the first time. In World War 2, tanks were used as the main deployment in many areas. Planes had improved, and bombers and fighters were heavily used. Submarines were also more heavily used. Encryption codes for secret also became more complex.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Introduction Chapter

Key Terms and Concepts (1-24) 1. Denudation is the total effect of all actions (weathering, mass wasting, and erosion) that lower the surface of the continents. 2. Weathering- the physical and chemical disintegration of rock that is exposed to the atmosphere. Mass-wasting- the short-distance down slope movement of weathered rock under the direct influence of gravity; also called mass movement. Erosion- detachment, removal, and transportation of fragmented rock material. 3.Openings in the surface and near- urface bedrock are frequently microscopic, but they may also be large enough to be conspicuous and are sometimes huge. In any case, they occur in vast numbers and provide avenues along which weathering agents can attack the bedrock and break it apart. Subsurface weathering is initiated along these openings, which can be penetrated by such weathering agents such as water, air, and plant roots. As time passes, the weathering effects spread from the immediate vicinity of the openings i nto the denser rock beyond. . Joints are cracks that develop in bedrock due to tress, but in which there is no appreciable movement parallel to the walls of the joint. Faults are breaks in bedrock along which there is relative displacement of the walls of the crack. 5. Master Joints are Joints that run for great distances through a bedrock structure. Master Joints play a role in topographic development by functioning as a plane of weakness, a plane more susceptible to weathering and erosion than the rock around it. 6.Mechanical weathering is the physical disintegration of rock material without any change in its chemical composition; also alled physical weathering. Chemical weathering is the chemical decomposition of rock by the alteration of rock-forming minerals. 7. Frost wedging is the fragmentation of rock due to expansion of water that freezes into ice within rock openings. 8. Salt wedging is the rock disintegration caused by the crystallization of salts from evaporating water. 9. Exfoliation is the weathering process in which curved layers peel off bedrock in sheets.This process commonly occurs in granite and related intrusive rocks after overlying rock has been removed, allowing the body to expand slightly. An exfoliation dome is a large rock mass with a surface confguration that consists of imperfect curves punctured by several partially fractured shells of the surface layers (due to exfoliation). 10. Oxidation is the chemical union of oxygen atoms with atoms from various metallic elements to form new products, which are usually more voluminous, softer, and more easily eroded than the original compounds.When iron-bearing minerals react with oxygen (become oxidized), iron oxide is produced. This reaction, probably the most common oxidation in the lithosphere, is called rusting. 1 . Hydrolysis- a chemical union of water with another substance to produce a new compound that is nearly always softer and weaker than the original. Carbonation- a process in whi ch carbon dioxide in water reacts with carbonate rocks to produce a very soluble product (calcium bicarbonate), which can readily be removed by runoff or percolation, and which can also be deposited in crystalline from if the water is evaporated. 2. Biological weathering is rock biological weathering is lichens. Lichens are primitive organisms that consist of algae and fungi living as a single unit. Typically they live on bare rock, bare soil, or tree bark. They draw minerals from the rock by ion exchange, and this leaching can weaken the rock. 13. Differential weathering is the process whereby different rocks or parts of the same rock weather and/or erode at different rates. 14. The steepest angle that can be assumed by loose fragments on a slope without downslope movement is called the angle of repose.This angle, which varies with the nature and internal cohesion of the material, represents a fine balance between the pull of gravity and the cohesion and friction of the rock materi al. If additional material ccumulates on a debris pile lying on a slope that is near the angle of repose, the newly added material may upset the balance and may cause all of part of the material to slide downward. 15. Rockfall (fall) is the mass wasting process in which weathered rock drops to the foot ofa cliff or steep slope. 16. Talus (scree) are pieces of weathered rock, of various sizes, that fall directly downslope.Sometimes the fragments accumulate relatively uniformly along the base of the slope, in which case the resultant landform is called a talus slope or talus apron. 17. A talus cone is a sloping, cone-shaped heap of dislodged talus. This cone pattern is commonplace because most steep bedrock slopes and cliffs are seamed by vertical ravines and gullies that funnel the falling rock fragments into piles directly beneath the ravines, usually producing a series of talus cones side by side along the base of the slope or cliff. 18. A rock glacier is an accumulated talus mass that moves slowly but distinctly downslope under its own weight. 9. Landslides do not require the lubricating effects of water or clay, although the presence of water may contribute to the action; many slides are triggered by rains that add weight to already overloaded slopes. Landslides may be activated by other stimuli as well, most notably by earthquakes. 20. A slump is different from other kinds of landslides because it is a slope collapse slide with rotation along a curved sliding plane. 21. A landslide is a general term for a type of slope failure involving an instantaneous collapse of a slope and movement along a generally flat sliding plane.A mudflow is a rapid, downslope movement of a dense mixture of weathered rock and water through or within a valley. 22. Earthflow is the mass wasting process in which a portion of a water- saturated slope moves a short distance downhill. A debris flow is a stream-like flow of dense, muddy water heavily laden with sediments of various size s; a mudflow containing large boulders. 23. A soil creep is the slowest and least perceptible form of mass wasting, which consists of a very gradual downhill movement of soil and regolith.Soil creeps happen slower than a snail can move, and they usually can be prevented if falling towards a house/building. 24. Solifluction is a special form of soil creep in tundra areas; associated with summer thawing of the near-surface portion of permafrost, causing the wet, heavy surface material to sag slowly downslope. Study Questions (1-5) 1. It is possible for weathering to take place beneath the surface of bedrock because of things such as Joints within the rock. If the Joints are deep enough, the weathering will take place underneath certain parts of the rock.There are many types of a whole, not Just the surface. 2. Chemical weathering is more effective in humid climates than in arid climates because arid climates do not have water. Humid climates have higher amounts of water and higher tem peratures so chemical weathering happens faster. 3. There is a direct relationship between gravity and ass wasting. Any mass moves in the direction of the vector sum of all the forces acting on it, with acceleration numerically equal to the magnitude of the sum of the forces divided by its mass.On or near the Earth's surface, gravity is always one of the forces. 4. Clay reacts to water by expanding, and when it dries, it contracts. Some clay does it so small that it's barely noticeable, some clay does it so much that you can very easily see it happen right in front of your eyes. If these clays are in a crack between rock, or in a layer beneath rock, or basically any place that the clay is omehow packed between two hard rocks, and it gets wet, then it will expand, and put force on the two rock layers.Then it will dry, and â€Å"pull† the layer or Joint into a weaker state. If this happens over a long enough time, then it will break the rock that is in the weaker position. 5. R ainfall can expedite mass wasting because when there is more water in the objects that are falling, the objects (falling rocks) become heavier, therefore the process is speeded up. The more rainfall there is, the more water will be accumulated and the heavier the falling rocks will be.

Chapter filipino

This chapter presents the research design, the respondents of the study, the research instruments and the statistical treatment to be used in the presentation and analysis of the data. Methods of Research used The descriptive method of research was used in this study. Descriptive method of research Is a fact finding study with adequate interpretation of the findings. It describes what Is. It describes with emphasis what actually exist such as current conditions, practices, situations, or any phenomena. Since the present study orInvestigation was concerned with the level of difficulty between algebra and geometry to sophomore of Santa Rosa Science and Technology High School during school year 2012-2013, the descriptive method of research was the most appropriate method to use. Sampling Technique This research uses the random sampling in determining the number of respondents. The researchers will assess the difficulty level of algebra and geometry of 56 sophomore students In Santa Rosa Science and Technology High School during school year 2012-2013. Description of Respondents The respondent were the sophomores students in Santa Rosa Science andTechnology High School in school year 2012-2013 that includes six sections namely: Pasteur, Linnaeus, Mendel, Darwin, Watson and Hook. Distribution of Respondents Section Number of Students Pasteur 41 10 Linnaeus Mendel 37 9 Darwin Watson Hook Table 1: This table shows that two of the six sections contain 10 respondents while the remaining four had only 9 respondents. All of the six sections have near range of Research Instrument 1 . Questionnaire. This is a researcher-made questionnaire which is composed of 2 parts. Part I is the general information of the respondents that include the age and sex of the respondents.Part II is the questionnaire for the assessment of the level of difficulty between Algebra and Geometry to sophomore students of Santa Rosa Science and Technology High School during school year 2012-2013. Data G athering Procedure Development of the instrument, after reading and studying samples of questionnaire from related studies, the researchers prepared their own questionnaire. The researchers also consulted some knowledgeable people about how to prepare one. The researchers saw to it that there were enough items to collect data to cover all aspects of the problem and to answer all the specific questions under the statement of the problem.Then the researchers submitted the questionnaire to their adviser, Dry. Scorer B. Escape for correction after which it was finalized. The copies of the questionnaire were then distributed personally by the researcher by the researcher to the respondents. After few days, all the copies Statistical Treatment of the Data The researcher will use the Weighted Mean, and the Relative Frequency. 1. Mean (x). This is to determine the average scores of some variables subject for study. X Where: x – the median n – the number of respondents 2. Relat ive Frequency.This will be used in the presentation and analysis of data gathered for problems using the formula: % = fin x 100 Where: f – frequency n – total number of respondents % – relative frequency Cover Letter Dear Respondents, Please be informed that we are conducting a study on the level of difficulty between Algebra and Geometry to sophomores of Santa Rosa Science and Technology High School in school year 2012-2013. In this connection, we have constructed a questionnaire to gather adequate information to know the level of difficulty between Algebra and Geometry. In fact, our research teacher, Dry.Scorer B. Escape has encouraged us to conduct the survey and promised to help us get your cooperation. Your participation in the study by way of answering the questionnaire is very important. Without it, our study wouldn't be successful as it should be. Kindly fill up the questionnaire and return it to us. Please feel assured that your anonymity and the inform ation you will give will be treated with the strictest confidentiality. Thank you very much for your very kind response to our request and if you are interested, we will supply you with the results of the study. Very sincerely yours,

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

B. Ed. (IInd Year)

ES-362: Computers in Education Assignment 1 Answer the following questions in about 500 words each: i) Explain the criteria you would adopt to select a software for teaching with the help of a suitable example. (500 words) ii) Discuss the role of computers in financial accounting in the schools. (500 words) iii) Select a topic of your choice from your teaching subject. Divide the contents in the form of frames and arrange then in the sequential manner. (500 words) ES-363: Guidance and Counselling Assignment 1 Answer the following questions a) Discuss the use of aptitude and achievement tests in classroom teaching. Give examples. (250 words) b) Discuss the role of teachers in the career planning of their students. c) (250 words) Discuss the concept of inclusive education. You have a learner with disability in your classroom. Write a report on the instructional strategies you would adopt and the teachinglearning materials and environment you would create for making your classroom processes inclusive. (1000 words) 3 ES-364: Distance Education Assignment 1 Answer the following questions in about 1500 words: i) Describe different models of distance education institutions with emphasis on their relative advantages and disadvantages. (500 words) ii) Discuss the interrelationship between the characteristics of distance learners and those of distance education system. (500 words) iii) The use of media in distance education institutions has led to the evolutionary thinking on the development of distance education. Explain the statement in the context of different generations of distance education? (500 words) Assignments B. Ed (IInd Year) Assignments for two special compulsory courses BESE-065: HIV AND AIDS EDUCATION Assignment 1 Answer the following questions i) Explain briefly the profile of HIV and AIDS. (500 words) ii) Elaborate misconceptions of HIV, AID and STDs? (500 words) iii) Elaborate your role in a school for preventing Drug addiction and HIV. (500 words) BESE-066: ADOLESCENCE AND FAMILY EDUCATION Assignment 1 Answer the following questions i) Briefly explain the Personnel and Socio-cultural concerns of adolescents. (500 words) ii) Elaborate briefly the merits and drawbacks of Joint and Nuclear family. (500 words) iii) As a teacher, what role do you visualise as an individual in Family life education Elaborate with Illustrations. 4

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - Essay Example The character and essence of Voldemort is an essential part of the novel and Rowling has used her skill to make it an interesting and influential character in Harry’s life and the story. The novel starts with the life of Harry Potter with his parents and then eventually with the Dursley family. He learns that he is a wizard and is sent to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He makes two best friends there named Ron and Hermione. The three friends start searching for mysterious connections at Hogwarts. On Christmas they discover the three-headed guard dog which guards the Sorcerer’s Stone. This stone is capable of giving unlimited wealth and eternal life to the owner. It belongs to the old partner of Dumbledore, the head of Hogwarts (Rowling 75). After that Hagrid, a giant who gets Harry admission to Hogwarts, gets a dragon egg as a win of the poker game. Owning dragons was illegal hence Harry, Ron, and Hermione are caught and punished. For their punishment, they were sent to the enchanted forest to search for the one who had been killing unicorns. Harry finds a man in the forest who is wearing a hood and is drinking the blood of a unicorn. That man attacks Harry but Harry is saved by a man who tells him that the person who attacked him was Voldemort (Rowling 159). Voldemort is the same person who was trying to steal the Sorcerer’s Stone, and who had murdered Harry’s parents when Harry was just one year old. He had attacked harry back then also but it was unsuccessful. Harry decides to stop Voldemort and thus plans to get the stone before he does. Along with his friends he sneaks in the night and passes the guard dog. However, Harry is caught and there are orders for him to die. It is shown that Voldemort is the one who caught him and ordered him to die in someone else’s body. There is a struggle and a fight and Harry is

Monday, August 12, 2019

Evil, a Challenge to Philosophy and Theology Essay

Evil, a Challenge to Philosophy and Theology - Essay Example As one of the giants of his field Ricoeur once again sets us thinking in his deep and mystical fashion which is so characteristic of his continental philosophy. His major works include masterpieces on existentialism, phenomenology, psychoanalysis, politics, religion and the theory of language. In Figuring the Sacred, Paul Ricoeur offers a "hermeneutic critique of different responses to evil,lament and blame,myth wisdom and theodicy."3 "Lament and blame ..Differentiates between evil as suffering and evil as wrongdoing if lament sees us as victims blame makes culprits of us Ricoeur observes that infact these two categories are always intertwined .We can feel guilty for committing an evil act while simultaneously experiencing seduction or invasion by an over whelming force outside us".4 Ricoeur's work discusses the entire intellectual and religious history of the west. In his essay "Evil, a Challenge to Philosophy and Theology" (1985) Ricoeur discusses how evil is symbolised and the problems behind such symbolisation. He has pointed out how the concept of "theodicy" becomes inadequate during such an analysis. Ricoeur deals with the haunting human dilemmas like guilt and lament and goes to profound depths making conclusions which are often subtle yet familiar to the seasoned critic who is almost always left speechless by his understanding of realms not yet explored in religious psychology and theology. The bo The book forms along with its essays a very thoughtful reading for religious people as well as the common lay people .Ricoeur reminds us of many things which we ignore like to the role of God in everyday philosophy and thought. With Ricoeur the title speaks for itself when life becomes the very tumultuous path to "figuring the sacred". The book constantly invokes a subtle awareness in the minds of the reader, reminding us to shield our thoughts from negativity and trivialization while we "figure the sacred" who actually lives within our hearts and minds. Bibliography 1. Book review by Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary,Decatur, GA available at http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/apr1996/v53-1-bookreview4.htm 2. Figuring the Sacred: Religion, Narrative, and Imagination ,By Paul Ricoeur,Minneapolis, Fortress, 1995. 3. On Paul Ricoeur: The Owl of Minerva By Richard F. Kearney,pp

Sunday, August 11, 2019

Computer Sciences and Information Technology Essay - 5

Computer Sciences and Information Technology - Essay Example The recent years have been marked by a shift of resources to more secure designs now that the implementation bags have proved to be scarce courtesy of SDL (Viega and McGraw, 2002, p. 67) Threat models are SDL’s cornerstone as they make it possible for the development team to figure out secure designs in a way that is structured. To achieve this effectively, threat model has been simplified into several tasks; coming up with pictures of data flows software, the application of the â€Å"stride per element† method in an effort to identify threats applicable to the desired design, taking a look at each threat and verification to ensure that the software has been modeled enough by putting into consideration each threat and addressing all the discovered threats (Pfleeger, 1997, p. 78) The basic element of a threat model is in its delineation of the entry points in its application. The threat model is in such a way that it is able to capture the entry points in form of trust b oundaries during the phase commonly referred to as the â€Å"picture-drawing†. Good examples of this include; registry and files entry points and networking entry points. A threat model that is good enough should also be in a position to capture the authorization as well as the authentication requirements and the network accessibility of the interfaces. This process involves network accessibility via the IP address including the remote and local, local-only access and local subnet. The process also includes the authorization and authentication levels, user access, administrator-only access and anonymous access. When it comes to Windows access control lists (ACLs), the authorization levels come as finer-grained (Pfleeger, 1997, p. 56). The process identity is another critical data piece that is always captured by this model. In this case, the running code’s interference is what is taken to be the entry point and the resulting process which is high-privilege is considere d to be very dangerous if it is compromised. In the case of Windows, the administrator or the system process are regarded as being the highest privilege. In Mac OS X or Linux situation, the running process happens to be the most privileged (Viega and McGraw, 2002, p. 108). References List Pfleeger, C. 1997. Security in Computing. Prentice Hall: New Jersey Viega, J & McGraw, G. 2002. Building Secure Software. Addison-Wesley: New York DQ: RBAC The Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is an essential access management approach. It offers a provision method that is straight forward and in the right access level and to the correct users every time it is being applied. Despite RBAC applications, most of the security teams are still facing difficulties when it comes to account implementation and the process of access management on RBAC. The reason for the above scenario is that most of the internal developer’s teams and vendors are not coming up with capabilities based on the expected r ole into the solutions at hand. RBAC has been applicable in major overhaul in the last two years resulting to its application being assigned to more than 20, 000 users on each product. Many vendors tend to be attracted to such products. This indicates how RBAC has value to the management and its users. The latest RBAC model is designed in such a way that it enforces the least segregation and

Saturday, August 10, 2019

YOUR FIRST DRAFT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

YOUR FIRST DRAFT - Essay Example Illegal immigration is one of such possible threats because of its unmonitored nature that offers avenues for criminals’ illegal entry into the states. The criminals who could be escaping legal systems from their countries are likely to engage in criminal activities once they are in the United States. People with criminal intentions such as terrorism may also resort to illegal immigration to avoid identification as they enter the nation. The department however ensures its efficiency in managing the nation’s borders as a measure to controlling illegal immigration. It has implemented three measures to facilitate management of illegal immigration with special interest in preventing potential threats to America’s security. Deployment of skilled personnel in different countries in order to identify people who intend to enter the United States through fraud is one of the approaches to re-enforce borders. The department also ensures strict identification process of indi viduals travelling to the nation. International sharing of immigrants’ biometric data for identifying trends in fraudulent immigration, and people who pose threats to countries is another strategy that has been implemented by the department. Apart from the security threat, illegal immigration burdens the nation’s resources and increases competition for resources and economic opportunities against citizens. The immigrants are, however, also a source of different types of labor that are scarce in America. The fact that the immigrants are a potential threat to national security however undermines their potential economic contributions and strict measures should be taken to screen their entry into the nation. Some laws such as sanctuary policies have been developed, locally, to protect immigrant’s rights (Kenney, 2010; DHS, 2013). The department, in addition to

Critique of the article Overpopulation threatens the environment Essay

Critique of the article Overpopulation threatens the environment - Essay Example The author brings to fore a grave problem that faces the modern world today, by seeing it in a different perspective. He points to the fact that in order to sustain the environment, human beings have to control the birthrates and take immediate action so that the environment is protected for all living beings, including humans to survive. According to him, the best means to achieve this objective is to refrain from producing more children and he considers vasectomy as a noble mission of the modern day man, in the face of the current situation. The article, published in the Opposing Viewpoints Series by Green Haven Press, deals mainly with the problem that over population of the earth by the human species has a lot of â€Å"far-reaching and overwhelmingly destructive impacts on many other animal and plant species† (Cascadia 22). The author claims that overpopulation destroys biodiversity on earth to such a extent that it will become impossible for life to sustain on the planet in the long run. The author also argues that â€Å"The entire history of humanity is one of environmental destruction and the eradication of other species† (Cascadia 22). ... Human encroachment of the environment, and the dire consequences that await them due to over exploitation of the resources, remains a topic of engaging debates across the globe. In this scenario, Cascadia attempts to reemphasize this concern, in a bid to make his audience take cognizance of the problem. The author uses the literacy devices of logos, pathos, ethos and logical fallacies as well as statistical data, to put his point convincingly across to his audience. The title itself, simple and precise, communicates the essence of the essay directly to the readers. The author then introduces the topic, referring to the impact of overpopulation and its exponential growth, by referring to the data of births and deaths. In any major mishap such the Asian Tsunami or 9/11, the death toll is much less than the birthrate in a day. By citing statistics such as this, the author illustrates a logic that controlling birth rate is a significant concern for humans in order to protect the environm ent whose resources are already over consumed. The very logic of the situation amply convinces the readers of the essay about the gravity of the situation. Cascadia appeals to the emotions of his audience by referring to historical context of human migration to different landscapes. By specifically citing the instance of the â€Å"extinction of mega fauna† in North America as a consequence of human influx in the area over 10,000 years ago, the author deftly illustrates the impact excessive human concentration can have on the environment. Again, the author’s dexterity in deploying the literary elements of pathos and rhetoric becomes evident when he refers to the example

Friday, August 9, 2019

Physical Inactivity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Physical Inactivity - Research Paper Example This paper reviews the literature available to know more about various consequences of childhood physical inactivity. Millar and Dean (2012), pointed out that â€Å"Obesity is the most significant risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes in childhood. The main causes of obesity and diabetes in the developed and the developing world include a lack of adequate physical activity (Millar and Dean, 2012). The intrusion of internet, computers and mobile phones, forced children to shift their attention from painful physical activities to less painful mental activities. From the above data, it is evident that girls are undergoing severe harassments both in the family and in other social circles because of overweight. Such harassments can affect the development of self-esteem among children. â€Å"According to the WHO, the regional differences in overweight and obesity could be explained by a number of factors including differences in socioeconomic status and the availability and preferences of food and leisure-time physical activities† (Malkogeorgos, 2010, p.137). Different countries have different overweight statistics among teenage community. This is because of the differences in life styles and eating habits in different countries. It should be noted that underweight is the problem among children in some of the poor African countries whereas in American and European countries children are suffered because of overweight. It is evident from the figure that only 7% of the available 39% of other than classroom hours is used for physical workouts. TV watching and reading take 26% of the available 39% of leisure time. All these facts clearly show that modern children are using negligible time for physical workouts and the percentage of physical inactivity time is more than the desired level. Adegoke and Oyeyemi (2011) mentioned the consequences associated with physical inactivity. In their opinion, â€Å"Physical inactivity is

Thursday, August 8, 2019

Static Equilibrium Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Static Equilibrium - Lab Report Example From Newtons 1st law, an object is in equilibrium when it moves at constant velocity (Mathew, 2010, pp5). Static equilibrium is thus a system at rest is said to be in static equilibrium. The summation of equilibrium forces in each direction adds to zero. Also, the total net summation of torque is equates to zero. (Mathew, 2004, p.3).Ã" Fx=0, Ã" Fy=0, Ã" Fz=0, Ã" Ã"Ž=0,Fx becomes the force that occur in the X direction and Fy are the forces that occur in the Y component direction (Mathew,2010.pp.7). Fz is the force acting towards the Z direction. Force in an action as either a push or a pull that acts on an object. It has units given Newton. (N). Torque can be defined as the product as force and distance (r) about a point that causes the object to rotate. This is formal equation for torque is Ã"Ž=FrsinÏ ´ (Mathew, 2014, pp.4).F is the force in Newtons (N), r is the distance from the reference at which that the force acts at from the force vector at an angle from the distance. T orque= (Force) (Momentum arm), by convention a torque creating a clockwise rotation becomes negative torque, and a torque causing a counterclockwise rotation gives positive torque In this experiment, the force acting on a ring on a force table will be broken into constituents. The force, both magnitude and direction it will necessary to balance the ring. Equipment’s such as Force Table, Set of Hanging, Masses set of weights, three mass hangers, Ruler, Torque Balance Stand, string, two balances (Eisenberg, 2009 p.56) The mass for the 50gram disk was calculated. Also, mass of one of the hangers was measure. The mass of the disk was increased to the mass of the hanger, and its sum tabulated. This process was done again for second 50 gram disk and mass hanger. The sum was taken as M2 the components of for both X and Y of the force vectors given that m1 positioned at an angle of 40 degrees, and m2 is at 120 degree. In order to obtain the magnitude direction, a third force is necessary to balance

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Prof 2 part 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Prof 2 part 2 - Essay Example Theoretically, scientists know how DS came about but not what triggers it although there are so-called risk factors to DS incidences. DS is a condition that needs to be extensively studied not only so that it can be totally eliminated but also to help those born with this genetic defects live the closest to normal existence as possible. The purpose of this paper is to study the causes and effects of Down syndrome including its medical consequences and the accepted appropriate clinical, sociological, nutritional and psychological approaches in dealing with DS victims. In undertaking the study of this paper, the writer used several books, articles and other references to meet its objective, which is to understand the causes of Down syndrome, anticipate its medical consequences and how to best deal with DS patients, clinically, psychologically and socially. The article Down Syndrome culled from the Parenting and Child health website was vital in giving a complete overview of the genetic disorder. It familiarizes the reader, although rather cursorily, with the disorder. This was important so that a complete overview of the topic can be instantly had without having to read longer accounts initially (2008). This was likewise true with the article Birth Defects-Trisomy Disorders which can be found in the Better Health Channel website (2007). To find out the frequency of DS occurrence vis-Ã  -vis birth rates in Australian, a visit to the WD website and a reading of the article Statistics by Country for Down Syndrome proved helpful although the statistics therein presented were products of mere extrapolation (2008). The article Down Syndrome and Genetic Cleansing by Rachel Mealy provided an idea how Australian mothers can anticipate a DS birth and how Australian pregnant women actually deal with knowledge of imminent DS births (Mealy 2002). The book Prescription for Nutritional Healing: A Practical A-To-Z Reference to

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

How the Octopus Close Season Affected Womens Life in Rodrigues Essay Example for Free

How the Octopus Close Season Affected Womens Life in Rodrigues Essay Rodrigues is a 108 square kilometre, volcanic originated island, located in the Indian Ocean at around 600 kilometres at the east of the mainland Mauritius. It is surrounded by coral reef forming a lagoon with a rich biodiversity, which as twice the size of the land It was formerly known as the tenth district of Mauritius, up to the 10th of December 2002, where it attained the status of autonomy, governed by the Rodrigues Regional Assembly. The economy is mainly based on traditional fishing, low-scale farming, handicraft and an emerging tourism sector. One of the most common means of traditional fishing, is the famous octopus catch, which is mainly done by the Rodriguan women, known here as the â€Å"piqueuse d’ourite†. This is done at low tide where the fisherman equipped with iron rods, pace up and down the coral barrier, in search of a hole where nests the mollusc. The new government elected in February this year, expressed the wish to consolidate sustainable developments and protect local resources, for food security and protection of the environment. In this connection a regulation was adopted by the Rodrigues Regional Assembly in July 2012 for the closure of octopus catch season as from August 2012 to October 2012. This program is a joint collaboration financed by Smartfish and the Rodrigues Regional assembly. Smartfish is a regional programme financed by the European Union and is implemented by the Indian Ocean Commission in collaboration with the Common Market for Eastern and southern Africa (COMESA) , the east African community (EAC) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development ( IGAB). The Octopus fishers were called for a half day work in the interest of the environment against remuneration in order for them to cope with the loss of earnings. The fisherwoman at the beginning of the project found a lot of difficulties to adapt with it. They used to sell their octopus on days where they go fishing and hence handling money in small quantities, spread over several days. In the program they were paid after a week of work. They found much trouble to wait for the pay and had to adapt themselves to a new form of budgeting and a new form of saving in order to meet expenses for the coming days before next payment. For example Mrs Cupidon of Baladirou, a professional fisherwoman, who use to earn around Rs 300 each time she goes fishing, uses go to the nearby shop everyday where she buys food for the day and keeps around Rs 25 rupees to pay the electricity bill at the end of the month. Now being paid after a week forced her to seek for credit and pay after one week, it has been hard for her to persuade the shop owner to grant her such service. Locating an octopus in the sea is reserved to expert eyes and intuition. Since young age many â€Å" piqueuse d’ourite† have been initiated to the skill of locating the octopus’s next, to tackle it in order to force it out of its hiding place and to kill it in such a way as to avoid being hurt by the mollusc. When, they are called to exert a new profession such as to build stone retaining walls, many of them were in trouble and could not adapt themselves. Moreover it was the first time in their lives where they were placed below the supervision of a superior, where they had to be punctual and abide to the principles expected from a public worker. Many supervisors also xpressed the obstacles they had to overcome to make them respected and to impose laid principles. At a time during the programme cycle, there was a delay for payment, which had consequent and dramatic impulses on the lives of these fisherwomen. Being not used to keep savings, many of them found themselves without food. Formerly a part of their catch was kept for own consumption, but with this program they consumed only food bought from the shop. There were also absentees at school due to the fact that many women were penny less and could not provide for basic daily needs of their children. In this project, the one who benefitted the most were the fisherwoman themselves who after the opening of the season found their catch being multiplied, where the volume and size of octopus was highly satisfactory, to the point that actually they are keen for the government to repeat the project this year. The venture of this government to implement this program is to be greatly saluted as it goes in the direction of sustainable development. However some measures have to be tuned and re-adapted to suit the peculiarity of the way of living of the fisherwomen and decisions should be taken with their full collaboration.